Bowling ball return and storage mechanism



Nov. 18,, 1969 J. ZUERCHER ETAL 3,479,029

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JOHN ZUERCHER STANLEY CONDON BY ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 J. ZUERCHER ETAL 3,479,029

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0W Y- W .E CO N RC R E 0 IU T Z T NN A i g g 18, 1969 J. ZUERCHER ETAL 3,

BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE MECHANISM ATTORNEY N 1969 J. ZUERCHER ETAL BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 1, 1967 INVENTORS JOHN ZUERCHER STANLEY CONDON MW ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,479,029 BOWLING BALL RETURN AND STORAGE MECHANISM John Zuercher, Mansfield, and Stanley Condon, Plymouth,

Ohio, assignors to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 664,997 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 23, 1966, 42,714/ 66 Int. Cl. A63d 1 08 US. Cl. 27349 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for raising a ball from a first level to a second level comprising a curved track, a resilient rotary member for raising the ball along the track from the first level to a transfer position, and 'a rotatable member for engaging the ball at the transfer position and raising it to the second level.

This invention relates to bowling lanes and more particularly to means for returning the ball to the bowler after he has rolled it down the alley at the pins. The invention relates in still more particularity to hidden ball return systems wherein the ball is transported from the area adjacent the pins down a track which is below the level of the bowling alley and then lifted to a ball storage area spaced above the alley. In the past such ball return systems have been subject to jamming and other failures at the point in the system where the ball is transported from its level below the alley to the storage area spaced above the floor of the alley.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a hidden ball return system including improved means for transporting a ball between two vertically spaced levels.

It isa further object of this invention to provide a ball storage area having a normally closed door through which the ball is delivered from the ball raising means.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a ball storage area having an enlarged capacity.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for placing a bowling ball on top of a pair of rails, there being no parts of the mechanism above the rails. This results in a return storage area which is streamlined and has a low silhouette, the highest part thereof being the rails upon which the bowling ball rolls. This also speeds up the game of bowling for the bowling ball can be picked up as soon as it is a little over half way out of the lifting mechanism. It will also call a bowlers attention to the fact that the bowling ball has been delivered since there is nothing around the bowling ball to distract attention from it.

In accordance with these and other objects, the invention includes a rotary member for lifting 'a bowling ball from a lower track to a transfer position located such that the ball can be lifted further by a second member. The second member picks up the bowling ball and delivers it to a pair of tracks on the ball storage means whereat a bowler may pick the ball up. The ball storage means includes a door which is closed except when a bowling ball is ready to be delivered. Then the door will move downwardly underneath the ball return tracks, and as soon as the bowling ball is delivered the door will close by means of a spring return.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, in section, of an embodiment of the invention.

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FIG. 2 is a side view, in section, of another embodiment showing certain other features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view, in section, of another embodiment FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. I viewed along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, taken along line 77.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the housing of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the housing of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a isometric view of a portion of the door.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings the apparatus of the instant invention will be described in conjunction with a bowling ball return track 10 that is mounted below the level of the bowling alley 12, although the apparatus would equally be utilized with any return track that is below the level of the ball storage area, the rack or equivalent from which the bowler picks up his ball preparatory to bowling the next ball of his game.

The apparatus includes a housing 14, at least a portion of which, for convenience and simplicity, is in alignment with track 10, first ball lifting means 16 for lifting the ball to a transfer position 18, second ball lifting means 20 for engaging the ball at the transfer position and lifting it to a storage area 22, which is on top of housing 14, and a door 24 in the upper surface of housing 14, which door is opened in response to operation of the second ball lifting means to permit a ball to be lifted out of the interior of the housing 14 on to the storage area.

Looking at FIGURE 1, the first ball lifting means 16 includes an upwardly curving track portion 26 that is mounted in communication with track 10, and a rotatable member 28 which is mounted in spaced relationship with track portions 10 and 26 and positioned with respect thereto to engage a bowling ball 30 at 32 and propel it upwardly along track portion 26. Rotatable member 28 is driven in a counterclockwise direction at a predetermined angular velocity, for instance 65 rpm. The rotatable member 28 comprises in one embodiment 29 (FIGURES 2 and 7) a pneumatic tire-type member 34 mounted on a hub portion 36. An idler member 38 is mounted adjacent rotatable member 28, and a belt 40 is mounted around the rotatable member 28 and idler member 38. The belt 40 is the portion of the unit that actually contacts the bowling ball, and is made of leather or some other material that does not scuff the surface of the ball. The idler member 38 is biased away from the pneumatic tire 34 by a strut 42 connected to the frame at 44 and a spring 46 in order to maintain the belt 40 in a taut condition.

The pneumatic tire is spaced from track portion 26 a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball. This location, in conjunction with the natural resiliency of the tire, makes the rotatable member operable to take out energy from a ball that comes down track 10 too fast, and put energy back into a ball if it comes down track 10 too slowly.

Referring to FIGURES l and 6, in an alternative embodiment 47, rotatable member 28 may compris a plurality of sector shaped segments 48 mounted on spaced hubs 50. Annular members 52 connecting the segments 48 provide unity and rigidity. Ball engaging material 54 is mounted at the outer periphery of each of the segments 50, and is made of the same material as is belt 40.

Tension and resiliency is imparted to the ball engaging material 54 of each segment by sector shaped members 48 which are spaced apart a suflicient distance to tension the ball engaging material, and formed to provide resiliency upon the material 54 with a bowling impact ball. The reasons for providing the resiliency and tension are the same as for embodiment 28, i.e., to take out energy from a ball that comes down track too fast, and put energy into a ball that comes down track 10 too slowly.

The bowling ball is driven upwardly along track portion 26 by either embodiment of rotatable member 28 until it reaches a transfer position 18. The second ball lifting means is mounted thereat and includes a rotatably mounted shaft 56, a pair of arms 58 mounted thereon, and a pair of spaced rubber rollers 60 mounted on each arm. Of course, if desired arms 58 may be fabricated as one integral part. And, while two arms 58 are shown, any number could function depending on the size of the shaft, the size of the object being lifted, etc. Shaft 56 is also rotated at 65 rpm. and is positioned at the transfer position such that an arm is capable of swinging under a ball which has been delivered to the transfer position by rotatable member 28 and drive it further upwardly.

The ball lifting unit 20 is driven by a pulley and belt combination attached to a motor 60. More specifically, a belt 61 connected to the motor drives a pulley 62 having a spur 64 connected thereto. A belt 66 connected to spur 64 drives shaft 56 through a pulley 68. The two embodiments of rotatable member 28 are driven from spur 64 also. A belt 70 is connected to a pulley 72 mounted on the same shaft as are the embodiments of the rotatable member 28.

As an alternative to driving rotatable member embodiment 29 from spur 64 by belt 70, member 29 may be driven by a separate motor which is connected by a belt to a pulley connected to member 38, the rotational movement being imparted to tire member 34 by frictional engagement of belt 40 thereto. With this arrangement, strut 42 would not be pivotable, but would be attached rigidly to the housing. Tension may be applied to belt 40 by a spring loaded roller mounted to engage the exterior surface of belt 40 between idler 38 and tire 34 and biased toward the tire. This provision of a separate motor and drive for rotatable member 28 eleminates the crossing of belt 70 (FIGURE 1) to achieve the opposite rotational directions of shaft 56 and rotatable member 28. With separate motors, the motors may be driven in opposite directions.

A clutch unit 74 is mounted between pulley 68 and shaft 56 to provide a capability to counter-rotate, or backup a. certain amount. This provision is made to reduce the shock when an arm strikes a bowling ball at the transfer point. In addition, if there is a jam-up or misfunction of some other type, the clutch permits the pulley to rotate without the belt slipping or wearing out.

The clutch unit 74 may be omitted from the apparatus if desired since a bowling ball will tend to rebound about Me inch from the rubber rollers 34 upon contact therewith, giving the arm suflicient time to get out of the way and thus prevent a jam up. As an additional safety feature, if rotatable member 28 is stopped by a misfunction of som sort, an electric time device circuit (not shown) may be provided to incapacitate the drive.

A fork-shaped member 76 is mounted adjacent to transfer position 18. The fork-shaped member is shaped and positioned such that if there is no bowling ball at the transfer point, arms 58 may freely pass through the gap 78 between the tines 80. The fork-shaped member is pivotally mounted to the housing by a bracket 82 such that when an arm engages a ball at the transfer point and drives it upwardly towards the storage area 22 on the top of housing 14, the fork-shaped member is pivoted upwardly, as shown in FIGURE 1, to help form a passageway for the ball to pass through to the storage area. In this portion of the balls travel, the ball is positioned between tines 80 and a further track portion 84, as one of the arms 58 propels the ball upwardly to the storage area 22.

A door 24 is provided in the top of housing 14. The door is mounted for opening and closing movement and thus includes a pair of rollers 88 which are mounted for sliding motion in a pair of channels 90. The door is closed when the rollers are in their forward position, shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2. The rollers move rearwardly, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 2 and in solid lines in FIGURE 1, to provide the space for the ball to pass upwardly therethrough. The opening of the door is effected by a linkage assembly 92 connected between the door and fork-shaped member 76.

Linkage assembly 92 includes a link 94 pivotally connected at 96 to the rear of the door 24. The other end of link 94 is pivotally connected, at 98, to a shaped link 100. Link 100 is pivotally connected to the housing 14 at 102. A straight link 104 is pivotally connected to shaped link 100 at 106, and to bracket 82 of fork-shaped member 76 at 108. Downward movement of door 86 is effected by a link pivotally mounted at 96 to link 94 and pivotally mounted to the housing at 112.

In operation, linkage assembly 92 operates to open door 86 as follows: pivotal motion of fork-shaped member 76, caused by the impingement of a bowling ball thereagainst on its Way to storage area 22, operates to move straight link 104 in a backward direction. This causes shaped link 100 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about connection 106 to the position shown in FIGURE 1. This pivotal movement of shaped link 100 operates to pull link 94 backwardly. This backward movement causes link 110 to be pivoted about connection 112. Initially, this pivotal movement of link 110 causes door 24 to pivot about rollers 88 in a counterclockwise direction (downwardly) as the door is pulled backward. Further movement of links 94 and 110 effect a backward and clockwise movement of door 24 to the position shown in FIGURE 1.

A door control mechanism 114 is connected betweeen fork-shaped member 76 and the frame, and includes a pair of springs 116 and a dash pot 118. Springs 116 bias the door into its closed position by biasing fork-shaped member 76 into its horizontal position. Dash pot 118 opposes the biasing force of springs 116 to reduce the speed with which the door is closed.

With reference to FIGURE 10, a ball guide and directing surface 120 is mounted on the front of door 24. Surface 120 includes protrusions 122 that are operable to engage the periphery of a ball emerging from inside of housing 14 and impart lateral force thereto.

The coaction between the path of the closing door 24 and the :action of door control mechanism 114 operate to provide a measured amount of velocity to a ball delivered to storage area 22. More specifically, linkage assembly 92 operates to close the door 24 in the same path as it opens, i.e., the door pivots downwardly and then closes with an upwardly and forward motion. During the last portion of the. closing door movement, ball guide and directing surface 120 engages the ball and imparts upward and lateral movement (to the right in FIGURES 1 and 2) to the ball. The lateral movement sends the ball down the storage area with sufficient movement to displace static balls already on the storage area. As stated above, dash pot 118 operates to dampen the closing force imparted to the door by springs 116. This assures that an excess upward and lateral movement is not imparted to the ball by the door ball guide and directing surface 120.

Looking at FIGURES 8 and 9, storage area 22 comprises a Y-shaped track on top of housing 14 adapted to receive bowling balls through door 24 from the second ball lifting means 20. The rack is constructed with the portion adjacent the door being the highest portion thereof with the height of the rack dropping slightly therefrom to the ends of the legs of the rack.

The door of the ball return mechanism, as described hereinbelow, is normally closed, and is located adjacent the distal end of the elongated portion of the Y, the upper surface of the door being designed so as to blend in with the rest of the elongated portion of the Y. The elongated portion of the Y and the two legs thereof have a track thereon to support bowling balls, there being a retractable protrusion 126 between the tracks at the juncture of the two legs and the elongated portion. In operation when a ball is delivered through the door, due to the downgrade on the elongated portion of the Y,-t'he ball rolls down track 124, strikes the retractable protrusion and is directed thereby down one of the legs to rest at the end thereof, or to gently strike a ball already thereon, or a stop 128.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for transporting an object from a first level to a second, raised, level, which comprises:

means for raising an object from the first level to a transfer position,

gate means between said transfer position and said second level,

means for engaging the object at the transfer position and raising it to said second level, and

means responsive to the upward movement of said object from said transfer position for opening said gate prior to the arrival of the object thereat.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for raising the object to the transfer position includes:

a track,

rotatable means mounted in spaced relationship with said track, said rotatable means having a peripheral surface for frictionally engaging an object at the first level and driving it along said track, and

means for driving said rotatable member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for engaging the object at the transfer position includes:

a shaft,

a plurality of arms rotatably mounted on the shaft,

means mounted on each arm adapted to engage an object at the transfer position, and

means for driving said shaft in a timed relationship with the means for raising the object to said transfer position such that an object is engaged by the means mounted on one of said plurality of arms when said object is at said transfer position for lifting to said second level.

4. Apparatus for lifting bowling balls from a track to a storage area spaced above the alley, which comprises: means for lifting a ball from said track to a transfer position,

means for engaging a ball at the transfer position and raising it to the level of said storage area,

door means between said transfer position and said storage area, and

means responsive to the raising of the ball from the transfer position for. opening the door means prior to the arrival of the ball thereat to permit the ball to pass upwardly therethrough to the storage area level.

5. A bowling ball return and storage mechanism, comprising:

a housing adjacent the head of a bowling alley having means on the upper surface thereof for storing bowling balls,

a door in the upper surface of said housing,

a track mounted below and in spaced relationship 1 with said housing, said track being located to receive bowling balls from the alley pin deck area, said balls rolling along said track toward said 1 housing,

" means mounted within said housing adapted to engage bowling balls on said track and raise them to a transfer position,

means for engaging a bowling ball at the transfer position, raising it to said upper surface of the housing, and depositing it thereon, and,

means responsive to the movement of the bowling ball upwardly from the transfer position for opening said door prior to the arrival of the ball thereat to permit the ball to pass through the door and be deposited on the upper surface of said housing.

6. A bowling ball storage and return mechanism accordingto claim 5, wherein said means for raising bowling balls to, the transfer position comprises:

-an upwardly curved track portion, and

aresilient annular member rotatably mounted in spaced relationship with said curved track portion and spaced therefrom a distance less than the diameter of the bowling ball.

7. An bowling ball storage and return mechanism according to claim 6, wherein:

said resilient annular member is a pneumatic tire.

8. A bowling ball return and storage mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said means for engaging a bowling ball at the transfer position comprises:

a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing in spaced relationship with said transfer position,

a plurality of arms mounted on said shaft, each of said arms being adapted to be rotated by said s'haft through the transfer position and to engage a bowling ball thereat for lifting, by further rotational movement of said shaft, to said upper surface of said housing 9. A bowling ball storage and return mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said means for opening the door comprises:

means pivotally mounted adjacent the transfer position, which means is adapted to be engaged by a ball being lifted toward the upper surface of the housing and to be pivoted thereby, and,

linkage means connected to said pivotally mounted means and to said door for opening said door in response to pivotal movement of said pivotally mounted means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,192,608 3/1940 Butterworth 27389 X 2,809,037 10/1957 Montooth et al. 27349 3,042,403 7/1962 Jones et al. 27347 3,094,328 6/1963 Neville et al. 27349 3,109,648 11/1963 Anderson et al. 27349 3,232,612 2/1966 Bessinger 27349 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

